New High-Speed Service from Rochdale to London Gains Support from MPs and Local Leaders | Rail Technology Magazine

A new high-speed low-cost train service has taken a step-closer to becoming a reality following a gathering of MPs, local council leaders, businesses and academics. 

The event hosted by the ambitious train operator Lumo welcomed key guests in a bid to showcase the wealth of support for the first high-speed rail link between Rochdale and London for a quarter of a century, in a boost to local jobs, growth and connectivity in the Northwest.

Lumo, which already delivers more reliable, cheaper train travel along the East Coast Main Line, plans to run six return trains each day between Rochdale, Manchester Victoria, Eccles, Newton-le-Willows and Warrington Bank Quay with London Euston from 2027, providing 1.6 million people with a direct link to the capital.

The three-hour service will be quicker than the 5 hour 15 minute journey time by car, reduce carbon emissions savings and create at least 124 direct jobs for local people along the route.

Regional leaders, including Paul Waugh, MP for Rochdale, Elsie Blundell, MP for Heywood and Middleton and a member of the influential House of Commons Transport Select Committee, and Cllr Seve Gomez-Aspron, Deputy Leader of St Helens Borough Council, gathered to discuss the plans and the benefits the services will deliver. 

Paul Waugh, MP for Rochdale, said: “The last direct rail link between my constituency and the nation’s Capital was in 2000 and its restoration is long overdue. Lumo’s proposal to run six daily services between London Euston and Rochdale will provide more choice to customers, promising affordable fares and will spur economic growth into the region – firmly putting Rochdale on the map at long last.”

Cllr Seve Gomez-Aspron MBE, Deputy Leader of St Helens Borough Council and Cabinet member for Transport, said: “Newton-le-Willows station has become the busiest station in St Helens Borough, benefiting from a £19m makeover in 2019 and 450-space car park. Lumo’s proposal to run six daily services between the station and the Capital will give residents and commuters direct access to London stimulating local regeneration and growth, as well as providing more frequent local services to nearby towns and Manchester.”

Paul Ormerod, Chair Atom Valley Development, said: “Atom Valley is a first-of-its kind mega-cluster of innovation across Greater Manchester and has the potential to provide 20,000 new jobs and 7,000 new homes through public-private partnership.

“A strong transport offering is pivotal to these plans, and we look forward to Lumo’s proposed direct rail service between Rochdale and the Capital so we can attract productivity and connectivity where it is greatly needed.”

Mark Wantling, Chief Infrastructure Officer, University of Salford, said: “The University of Salford boasts over 26,000 students with world-class training facilities developing the next generation of talent. Lumo’s application to run six daily services between Eccles and the Capital will give our students and employees greater regional and inter-city connections. With a growing international student-base, it will also attract more people to the University with international rail connections to London.”

Lumo has applied to the rail regulator to launch its services during 2027. Last week, the Prime Minister announced that the Newcastle-based rail operator had placed a £500 million order for British-built trains, in a major boost to manufacturing in the Northeast at Hitachi Rail’s Newton Aycliffe plant.

Image credit: First Group